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Round-topped stele fashioned of two vertical pieces joined by two dowels (join corresponds to diagonal break in photo). All surfaces coated with plaster, then painted in red, yellow, blue, green, black, and white. Surface is in somewhat poor condition, with gesso layer separating from wood and in many spots has chipped off.

At top is a red winged sun disk with multi-colored wings and two uraeus cobras flanking it. The primary scene below shows the deceased at right, facing left, raising his hands in a posture of adoration. He wears a black wig tied with a red fillet, atop which sits a cone of incense. His kilt is painted yellow. The falcon-headed god Re-Horakhty faces him, wearing a blue wig, yellow and red mummy wrappings, bracelets, and an atef-crown. His arms extend forward to hold a was-scepter (hieroglyphic sign for “dominion”). Behind this deity stands the goddess Isis, wearing a blue wig upon which is the headdress/sign that identifies her. She also wears a bracelet and two anklets, all in blue, and she holds a red & blue cloth in her raised arm, meant to depict fresh mummy bandages. Her caption reads: “Mother of the god.” The caption between the deceased and Re-Horakhty reads: “A thousand of bread and beer.”

This follows the main offering text at top, arranged in four divided columns of black painted hieroglyphic text, which read: “(1) Re, who presides over the gods. (2) May he give food- (3) offerings (to) the Osiris (4) Padi-Khonsu.”

The single line of text at bottom refers to the deceased: “Osiris, Doorkeeper of Amen, Padi-Khonsu, True-of-Voice, son of Pdi-Amen.”

Provenance

By 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way.
(Accession date: June 28, 1872)